The relevant [?] state law [which has no place in a secular government that purports to uphold freedom of expression!] defines "desecration" as "Defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise, physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action."

So let’s say an adult (subject to harsher penalties than minors) elected to spray paint “Jesus loves dicks” on the side of this boy’s school. That guy, at most (... for people with previous criminal records ...), would serve a year in jail – and that’s assuming the cost of having the wall re-painted exceeds $150 ...

But a 14 year-old does something stupid that causes literally zero property damage and he could face two years in juvenile jail because it’s a “venerated object”?That’s insane. That’s really ludicrous.

If he had spray-painted the statue, I’d be all for charging him. If he had done any damage, he should be punished in accordance with the damage done. Hell, I even think a slap on the wrist for trespassing could be appropriate. But fucking with a kid’s life for being immature ... is petty, vindictive bullshit.This law about venerated objects needs to be challenged and unmade, and I hope this case can be a vehicle for that.

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If they have the financial means, they should fight the living hell out of this and in doing so, state exactly WHY this crap about "Desecration of a Venerated Object" is such a load of cow turds. I mean seriously, no damage done, yet the status of a THING is rated about that of a HUMAN BEING?

Someone in Pennsylvania needs to be woken up ... with a bullhorn if necessary!

>"Defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise, physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action."

First of all, it seems like this statement of the law is missing a direct object. I'd love to see the courtroom drama around proving that an object is "venerated." (Miracle on 34th Street all over again.) What the hell does venerated even mean? Not by me it ain't!

Secondly, give me a f-ing break. Two years for this? In a free country? Why didn't they just cut his hands off so the little infidel couldn't take any more pictures?

Finally, would this have happened if he hadn't posted it on Facebook? So what's really the crime here - posing? Nothing was defaced, damaged, polluted or otherwise mistreated, other than justice and sanity.Taking the picture? It's obviously not a selfie, so what about the accomplice?

By this law, if I'm in Pennsyltucky and someone walks up to me and says "Jesus is your savior," s/he's outraging the hell out of my sensibilities. Are they going to be arrested too?

"Tits on a nun" is a more common phrase ... strangely, in use by Catholics, more than any other group, I think. Apparently, there's a lot of convent romance going on, though, so the nuns seem to be getting a bit of use out of their metaphors, as well.

I remember the nuns teaching us how to prepare for confession in second grade. They gave everyone a big list of possible sins, and we had to scan it and remember the ones we had committed to tell the priest. The most captivating sin on the list was "I touched myself in impure places." I guess in a way an "impure place" is the logical equivalent of a "venerated object" Back to you, Loren!

The photo could be considered in poor taste but aren't all FB photos. Doesn't this state have better things use its courts for than fucking with a teenager? That the charge was brought is offensive. Other than that it's pretty funny.